4 - Following Appointments

         Following the first appointment, the patient needs to bring the results of the exams that were requested.  The doctor will carefully analyze the results of the exams and will tell the patient that he/she is ready for the surgery (depending on the results of the exams).  If the patient brings in a list of questions about the surgery, the doctor answers these questions at this time. 

        Another clinical exam takes place then.  Doctor and patient once again talk about the problem that is to be corrected, the pictures are analyzed, the previous surgery plan is confirmed or modified if new facts arise, in most cases if the patient identifies a new requirement. 

        The doctor explains the post-surgery process, describing nausea and vomiting, pain, dizziness, restricted movements or exercise for a period, duration of stay at the hospital, convalescence at home, medicine requirements, swelling and other topics that will be further discussed in section 8.

         Once the final plan is defined, the date of the surgery is set.  Time and date when the patient must enter the hospital, address of the hospital and name of the person to look for when the patient arrives are determined.  Instructions are given in special cases related to medicine that the patient is taking, whether it has to be stopped or can be continued and if the patient needs to go through previous physiotherapy and recommendations about smoking, drinking and eating.

        The cost of the surgery is established including hospital, anesthesia and surgical team.  The payment occurs generally at the time of registration at the hospital.  The patient can pay a partial payment of the total price.  In this case half of the cost is paid on act and the other half can be parceled according to the necessity of each patient.  This agreement is documented in a contract.